Electrical switch-indicator.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

W. A. RIDEOUT, SR. ELECTRICAL SWITCH INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBG.11. 1905.

WILLIAM A. RIDEOUT, SR.,

PATENT OFFIOE.

OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed December' 11,1905- Serial NO- 291,306.

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ALBERT RIDE- OUT, Sr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switch-Indicators and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical switch-indicators and signals.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character whereby the position of a switch will be indicated to the operator in the station and a signal displayed to an approaching train, the indicating mechanism of the device being automatically operated by the movement of the switch, the switch being operated in the usual or any suitable manner.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the invention, showing the application of the same and Fig. 2 is a front view of the indicating-board, the pointer, and the magnets which control the latter.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the main tracks of a railway, 2 denotes the side tracks, and 3 denotes the switch-points. The switch may be of any suitable construction, but is here shown as being provided with a cross rod or bar 4, which connects the two switch-points 3. one end of the cross-bar 4 is connected the ordinary operating mechanism or lever, which is arranged in a switch-stand 5 at one side of the tradks. The opposite end of the crossbar 4 is extended beyond the opposite ends of the track, as shown at 6, and to said extended end is secured a contact-block 7.

The extended end 6 of the cross-bar 4 preferably projects into a box or casing 8, which is arranged at the side of the track and is shown in section in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In the box or casing is also arranged the terminals of electric circuit-wires 10 and 11 the opposite ends of which are connected to electromagnets 12 and 13. The circuit-wire 9 is connected with a branch wire 14, which connects the inner ends of the two magnets 12 and 13, as shown. In the circuit of wire 9 is arranged a battery 15, and within the box or casing 8 is arranged the contact point or block 7. To the outer end of the magnet 12 is connected one end of the circuit-wire 10, the opposite end of which extends into the box or casing 8 and is provided with a contactepoint 17. The circuit-wire 11 is connected to the outer end of the magnet 13. The opposite end of said wire extends into the box or casing 8 and is provided with a contact-point 18. The contact-points 17 and 18 on the ends of the circuit-wires are arranged within the box or casing 8 in such positions that upon the shifting of the switch-points and their connecting rod or bar 4 the contact-block secured to the extended end of saidbar will be brought into engagement with said contact-points to close the circuit between the wires 9 and 10 or between the wires 9 and 11, thus energizing one or the other of the magnets 12 and 13. The arrangement of the contact-points of the wires is here shown as when the switch-points are closed to clear the main track, the contact-block 7 having been brought into position to close the wires 9 and 10, thus energizing the magnet 12. When the switch-points have been shifted to an open position to use the side track, the contact-block 7 will be brought into position to close the wires 9 and 11 thus energizing the magnet 13.

The magnets 12 and 13 are preferably arranged upon a suitable indicating-board within the office of the operator or station agent, and pivotally connected to said board adjacent to the magnets 12 and 13 is an indicating-pointer 19, the inner end of which projects between the armatures of the magnets 12 and 13 and is adapted to be attracted by one or the other of the magnets when the same are energized. The outer end of the pointer 19 is adapted to move over an indicating board or dial on which are placed suitable inscriptions indicating the main track and the side track, the arrangement being such that when a switch is shifted to clear the main track the pointer will be attracted by the magnet 12, which will swing the outer end of the same into position to indicate on the dial that said main track is clear, and when the switch is shifted to use the side track the magnet 13 will be energized, which will swing the pointer over to the opposite side ofthe dial to indicate that the side track is open.

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By means of an indicating device constructed as herein shown and described the train operator may tell at a glance the exact position of the track-switch and will know at any time when the switch has been tampered with, thus making it possible to prevent accidents caused by the carelessness or malicious intentions of employees or others who may have operated the switch.

In addition to the contact-points 17 and 18 in the box 8 there may be also arranged on the opposite side of the connecting cross rod or bar 6 other contact-points 20 and 21, with which the contact point or block 7 is adapted to be engaged and to which are connected circuit-wires, by means of which electricity is carried from the battery 15 to a motor-operated signal located at a distance from the switch.

AThe contact-point 2O is located opposite to and in line with the contact 17 of the circuitwire 10. The contact-point 21 is located opposite to and in line with the contact-block 18 of the circuit-wire 11, so that when the contact-block 7 on the connecting cross-rod 6 is shifted into engagement with the block 17 contact will also be made with the block or point 20, and in like manner contactwill be simultaneously made with the points 18 and 21 when the block 7 is shifted in the opposite direction.

Connected to the battery-wire 9 or forming a continuation of the same is a circuit-wire 22. To the contact block or point 2O is connected a circuit-wire 23, and to the contactblock 21 is connected a circuit-wire 24. The circuit wires 23 and 24 extend from the switch-box 8` to a motor-operated signaling device located at a distance from the switch and carry an electric current from the battery 15 to energize the motor and other devices for operating the signal which will inform the engineer of an approaching train of the position to which the switch has been moved. The signaling device consists of a suitable stand having pivotally mounted thereon a vane 25 or other suitable signaling device, which is adapted to be swung in one direction or the other and to indicate by its position the position of the switch. The mechanism for moving the vane 25 comprises a shaft 26, on one end of which is ixedly .mounted the vane 25 and on the opposite end of which is fixedly mounted a circular disk 27 and a spur gear-wheel 28. Meshing with the teeth of the gear-wheel 28 is a spur-gear pinionl29, 'fixed on the shaft of an electric motor 30, which is supplied with electricity through the circuit wire running from the indicating mechanism hereinbefore described. When the motor 30 is energized, the pinion 29 will be revolved and will drive the gear-wheel 28, thereby turning the shaft 26 and swinging the vane 25.

In order that the movement of the vane may be limited, an automatically-operated stop mechanism is provided to stop the operation of the driving mechanism. The stopping mechanism here shown and preferably employed consists of L-shaped levers 31 and 32, pivotally mounted on each side of and adjacent to the periphery of the disk 27. Said levers are adapted to be operated by magnets 33 and 34, whereby one or the other will be swung into engagement with the periphery of the disk 27, so that when said disk has turned to a suitable distance in moving the vane 25 a notch or recess 35, formed in its periphery, will be brought into engagement with the end ofthe lever engaging said periphery, thereby stopping further movement of the disks. The levers 31 and 32 are provided with coil-s rings 36, by means of which the same will e restored to their normal positions when released by the magnets.

When the switch has been thrown to clear the main track, contact will be made between the point or block 7 and the point or block 20 of the signaling mechanism and between the block 7 and 17 of the indicating mechanism, thus causing an electric current to pass through the circuit-wires 9 and 10 to the indicating devices, as hereinbefore described, and through the circuit-wires 22 and 23, by which it is carried to the signaling mechanism. The current in passing through saidv signaling mechanism will pass from the wires 22,

through a branch motor supplying wire 37,

to the motor 30 and through the motor to a wire 38, by which it is conducted to the electromagnet 33 and from thence back through the wire 23 to the contact-point 20, thus com-y pleting the circuit. When the magnet 33 is thus energized, the L-shaped lever 31 will be attracted and rocked into position to engage -Ico the notch or recess 35 in the disk 27 thus y stopping further revolution of the same.

Connected with the circuit-wire 22 is a branch wire 39, which extends upwardly and is connected to a contact-block 40, which is adapted to be engaged by a contact-finger 41, secured to the lever 31 when the latter is attracted and moved by the magnet 33. The lever 31 is also in electrical connection with the wire 38 by a branch wire 42. Connected with the branch wire 39 and the circuit-wire 23 is an electric-light circuit 44, in which is arranged a light 44', which through the connections just described will be illuminated, thereby indicating the position of the switch at night.

Cn the opposite side of the vane-operating mechanism is disposed an arrangement of devices and wires corresponding to those just described and by means of which the vane IIO comprises the magnet 34, to which is connected the branch wire 38 and the circuit-wire 24,

running from the contact-point of the block 21 in the switch-box 8. oacting with the magnet 34 is an L-shaped lever 32, similar in construction and operation to the lever 31. Said lever 32 is connected at one end by a branch wire 45 to the wire 38 of the magnet. The lever 32 is also provided at its upper end with a contact-finger 46, adapted to be engaged with a contact-point 47, to which is connected a branch wire 48, running from the circuit-wire 22, and by means of which an electric current is carried to an electric-light circuit 49, in which is arranged an electric light 50. The lights 44 and 5() may be suitably colored to display the proper signals for indicating the position of the switch-points.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion,l and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a switch-indicating device comprising a pivotally-mounted pointer adapted to be moved in one direction or the other by electromagnets, and a signaling device comprising a motor-operated vane or signal-board and varicolored lights, of electric conductors connected with the operating mechanism of said indicating device and signal, stationary contact-blocks connected with the terminals of said conductors, a connecting rod or bar secured to the switch-points of a railway, a contact-point carried by said rod or bar whereby when said switch is moved in one direction or the other the circuit through said conductors will be completed thus energizing the operatingmechanism of said indicating device and said signal to cause them to display the proper sign and signal, substantially as described.

2. A switch-indicating device comprising a switch, a contact-block connected to said switch, an indicating board, a pivotallymounted indicating-pointer, electromagnets arranged to attract said pointer thereby turning the same in one direction or the other, means whereby an electric circuit is cornpleted to energize one or the other of said magnets thus causing the pointer to be swung in one direction or the other, and a signaling device, the operating mechanism of which is energized by the motive power of said indicating device, substantially as described.

3. A switch-indicating mechanism comprising an indicating-board, a pivotallymounted indicating-pointer, electromagnets arranged to attract and swing said pointer, electric-circuit wires connected with said magnets, stationary contact-points arranged on the ends oi said circuit-wires, a movable contact-block operated by the movement oi the switch to close one or the other of said circuits, thereby energizing one or the other of said magnets and causing said pointer to be attracted and swung in one direction or the other, a motor-operated signaling device, electric-circuit wires connected with said motor and contact-points arranged on the ends of said Wires, said contact-point being adapted to be engaged by said movable contactblock, substantially as described. I

4. A switch-indicating mechanism comprising an indicating-board having thereon inscriptions indicating main and side tracks,

a pivotally-mounted pointer adapted to be swung to point to one or the other of said inscriptions, electromagnets arranged to attract and swing said pointer in one direction or the other, electric-circuit wires connected with said magnets, stationary contact-points arranged on the opposite ends of said wires, a battery arranged in said circuit-wires, a crossbar connecting thel points of said switch, a contact-block secured to the extended end of said cross-bar, and adapted to be shifted by the movement of said switch to engage said contact-points and close one or the other oi the circuits passing through said wires, a motor-operated switch signaling device, electric-circuit wires connected to said motor and to varicolored lights arranged on said signal, and stationary contact-points connected to said circuit-wires, said points being adapted to be engaged simultaneously with the contact-points on said indicator-circuit by the contact-point on said cross-rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. RIDEOUT, SR. Witnesses:

R. C. WILLIAMS, J. T. REILLEY.

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